2027: Amaechi lacks electoral value, won’t deliver votes for Atiku – Wike

By Jude Opara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the electoral value of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, insisting he would not help the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, secure victory in the 2027 general election.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, monitored in Abuja, Wike argued that Amaechi has failed to demonstrate the political influence required of a vice-presidential candidate.
According to him, if Atiku’s decision to pick Amaechi as his running mate was based on the expectation of attracting votes, the strategy would not succeed.
“Amaechi as the running mate to Atiku, I have come to know that it will be difficult for Atiku to be president. If it’s in terms of bringing votes to support Atiku, he is dead on arrival,” Wike said.
The FCT minister suggested that financial considerations may have influenced Amaechi’s selection, rather than his electoral strength.
Drawing from previous elections, Wike recalled that Amaechi served as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019, but claimed Buhari failed to secure up to 25 percent of the votes in Rivers State during both elections.
He also maintained that Amaechi no longer commands significant political support in Rivers State or the South-South region, arguing that former public office holders should be judged by the impact they made while in office and the political following they retain.
Wike further accused Amaechi of inconsistency, noting that the former transport minister had previously criticised the ADC presidential primary as being marred by irregularities and corruption, but had now accepted the party’s vice-presidential ticket.